Pneumatic pump activator for oil wells

ABSTRACT

A wellhead mounted pneumatic actuating device for oil well pumps designed for operation by compressed air or gas. The preferred embodiment utilized a single action cylinder with the down stroke actuated by the weight of the sucker rods. The elongated pneumatic cylinder was powered by filtered lubricated compressed air. The pressure or solenoid control floating piston bleeder valve supplies high-pressure air or gas from an external source for lifting the piston and attached sucker rods and the release of pressure from the cylinder accomplishes the down stroke.

llnitelil States same 11 K /fle t 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] PNEKJMATHC PUMPAC'llii/A'IQR F0 2,287,709 6/1942 Ringman ..60/52 P1 0M, WELLfi2,681,623 6/1954 Kane ..60/52 F] [72] Inventor: 'K 225; 147 StardreamSan Primary Examiner-Robert M. Walker ntomo, ex. Attorney-Willard J.Hodges, Jr. [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 11970 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No:311,1l5fl l A wellhead mounted pneumatic actuating device for oil wellpumps designed for operation by compressed air or gas. The 2% g 3 1 5preferred embodiment utilized a single action cylinder with [58] lFitid41 5461 -9l/27 4 the down stroke actuated by the weight of the suckerrods. 1 e 0 am 60 The elongated pneumatic cylinder was powered byfiltered lubricated compressed air. The pressure or solenoid controlfloating piston bleeder valve supplies high-pressure air or gas [56]References (med from an external source for lifting the piston andattached UNITED STATES pATENTS sucker rods and the release of pressurefrom the cylinder accomplishes the down stroke. 1,619,474 3/1927 Hubbard..60/52 PJ 1,860,137 5/1927 Carr ..60/52 PJ 11 Claims, 8 DrawinghiguresPAIENTEDFEB22 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. KLAEGER BYW%%ATTORNEY PAIENTEDmzz m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 PRESSURE OILER FILTER REGULATORINVENTOR JOS PH H. KLAEGER BY/ FIG.7

PAIENTE0FEB221912 3,643,432

sum 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. KLAEGER PNEUMATMI PIUMIP ACTIWATOIR FUROIL WELLS Oil and water well pumps are a highly developed art. Scores ofinventions have been made primarily in the area of pumping cylindersplaced at or near the bottom of the well. Several attempts have beenmade to improve the mechanism for actuating the sucker rods; however,the more common practice even today is to utilize a lever actuated pumpjack for stroking the sucker rods and the well pump cylinder.

In certain oil fields and particular areas of production from oil sandemploying secondary recovery techniques, gaseous crude requires a longstroke pump to effectively operate the well pump cylinder. Hydraulicpumps and long stroke mechanically actuated pumps are quite expensive.

One of the objects of this invention was to devise a pump inexpensive toconstruct with low maintenance costs and de pendable operatingcharacteristics.

A primary object was to design a pump adapted to a stroke of any lengthwith particular emphasis on a long pumping stroke.

Another object was to design a pump highly adapted for use in oil fieldshaving a ready supply of compressed air or gas.

The device of this invention may in summary be described as a pneumaticwellhead pump designed to be secured to the wellhead for reciprocatingeither hollow or solid sucker rods. The pump actuating mechanism of thisinvention may be utilized in conjunction with a wider variety ofwell-known reciprocating plunger-type oil well pumping units. Theprimary components of this invention are secured to a mounting frame andbase plate attached to the wellhead casing. A preferred embodiment ofthis invention employed an adapter mechanism which was secured to thewellhead flange. The device is mounted directly above the wellhead andis constructed on a bottom plate. Space at opposite edges of this bottomplate was two tubular steel side supports. At the top end of the sidesupports were secured a cylinder base plate. Above the base plate wasmounted the elongated power cylinder in which was housed the piston withassociated rings or seals. The piston rod projected downward from thepiston through a polished rod packing gland. This polished rod wassecured to the sucker rod adjacent the wellhead. As was indicated above,the normal operation of this device utilizes compressed air or gas tolift the piston and employs the weight of the sucker rods to return thepiston to the lower position on the down stroke. This mode of operationnecessitates the utilization of a cylinder breather unit at the top endof the cylinder. The cylinder is enclosed at each end by a top and abottom cylinder head. The exterior of the cylinder might be placed incompression utilizing tension cylinder heads secured means. The powersource of this invention is received from an external source ofcompressed air or high-pressure natural gas. The operating air or gasmay be supplied through a pressure regulator valve. The compressed airmay be filtered and lubricated prior to passage into the bleeder valve.A floating piston is operably positioned in the bleeder valve cylinder,which has multiple pump cylinder drive and exhaust appertures separatedby a suitable sealing means such as rings. A cylinder inlet tubingsupplies high pressure air to the pump cylinder below the piston whenthe bleeder valve piston is in the bottom position forcing the piston upin the pump cylinder lifting the sucker rods. As the piston reaches theend of its upstroke, the button bleeder actuator plate strikes the topbleeder valve button releasing pressure in the upper end of the bleedervalve cylinder. The static pressure in the bleeder valve causes thebleeder valve piston to move to the top position interrupting the flowof air to the cylinder and releasing the air contained in cylinder. Thisloss of pressure results in the static weight of the sucker rods pullingthe piston in the pump cylinder to the bottom position. As it approachesthe bottom position, the bleeder valve actuator plates strikes the lowerbleeder valve button releasing pressure from the lower portion ofbleeder valve. This immediately causes the piston in the bleeder controlvalve to move to the bottom position which again admits the propellinggas through the cylinder inlet tubing to the pump cylinder forcing thepiston up starting a second cycle.

Various modifications of the standard device is possible in that thepiston itself might be utilized to actuate bleeder buttons with thebleeder valve control means mounted internal of the cylinder. It is alsopossible to utilize a counterbalance weight mechanism to balance theweight of the sucker rods and pump assembly in a fashion tosubstantially reduce the pressure required to actuate the piston in thecylinder.

Objects, advantages and other modifications of the device will beapparent to those skilled in the art of oil well pump operations from astudy of the following detailed description. Reference is now made tothe attached. several views wherein identical reference characters willbe utilized to refer to identical or equivalent components throughoutthe various views and the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the device, in position on a wellhead,partially fragmented.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the button bleeding valve.

FIG. 3 is a partially fragmented partially sectionalized view of thebutton bleeder valve.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are schematic diagrams of the operation of anembodiment of a button bleeder valve.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are schematic diagrams of the operation of anembodiment of a button bleeder valve.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the device partiallyfragmented in position on a wellhead.

FIG. 7 is a view of a possible filter, oiler and pressure regula tor inthe supply line for high pressure gas.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the device illustratingan improved and preferred method of providing an external source ofhigh-pressure gas.

The preferred embodiment of this device initially utilized on arelatively shallow well of approximately 900 feet in a secondaryrecovery operation from oil-bearing sands near Hondo, Texas. At thetime, a secondary recovery operation was employing a compressed airsupported fire ignited and maintained in the oil-bearing sand by aircompressors to increase the heat of the deposit and decrease theviscosity of the crude. The characteristic of the gaseous crude in therecovery process resulted in minimal flow from the wells utilizing ashort pump jack. The initial device employed a 36-inch stroke which wasadequate to break the vapor lock in the lower well pumping unit andincreased the production of a typical well threefold.

An illustration of the construction of a preferred embodiment referenceis made to FIG. 1. The mounting frame assembly II was secured to thewellhead casing 12 by attaching the device to the well flange 13. Abovethis flange was secured a substantially circular /2 inch steel bottomplate 14. The side support structure 15 may be substantially cylindricaland welded to the bottom plate M. Another structure could very wellcomprise two parallel erect side supports 15. These side supports maycomprise 2-inch steel pipes welded to the bottom plate 14. The length ofthe side support 15 is a matter of choice. It must, however, exceed inlength the desired stroke to be used in the pumping operation. Welded tothe top end of the side support 15 is a circular cylinder base plate 16.Secured above this cylinder base plate is the elongated pneumaticcylinders 17. The polished piston rod 18 is attached to piston I9slidably mounted in the power cylinder 17. Piston rings or sealingglands 20 are utilized on the outer edge of the piston 19 to producesubstantially airtight seal against the internal cylinder 17 wall. Thispiston rod is secured to the piston by a suitable piston rod securingmeans 21. Piston rod 13 projects through an aperture in the cylinderbase plate 116 and is sealed against leakage of air or gas by means ofthe piston rod packing gland 22. The polished rod or piston rod 118 isattached to sucker rod 23 utilizing adapter 24. At substantially thepoint of this adapter 24 on a plane parallel to the cylinder base plate20 should be mounted a bleeder valve actuator 25. This structureprojects perpendicular to the piston rod 18 to a point adjacent sidesupport 15. This actuator 25 is utilized in conjunction with theoperation of bleeder valve 26.

Pneumatic power cylinders 117 are available on the commercial market.They may be constructed, however, of pipe or tubing of the desireddiameter having a polished interior surface. A lower cylinder head 27and an upper cylinder head 28 are secured to each end of the powercylinder 17 by cylinder head securing means 29. In a single action pumpoperation, the upper cylinder head 28 is provided with a cylinderbleeder vent 30. As previously mentioned, the source of propulsion ofthe device is an external source of high-pressure air or gas 31. Thissource may be provided by any number or variety of air compressors andmore than one of these devices may be powered by a single compressor. Aspreviously mentioned, natural gas could be utilized for operating thedevice. This external source of high-pressure air may be passed througha pressure regulator valve 32, FIG. 7, to maintain the desired uniformpressure. It is desirable to pass the air or gas through an air filter33. In utilizing air as a mode of propulsion, an oil air lubricator 34should be placed in the system to lubricate the internal components. Airbleeder valve 26 is connected to the lower end of the power cylinder 17by means of the cylinder inlet tubing 36 which might be conventionalpipe or copper tubing or flexible high-pressure neoprene hose. Thisbleeder valve 26 is of a design widely used in control of pneumaticpressures and is available on the commercial market. For a descriptionof a typical example of this device, reference is made to FIG. 2, 3, 4and 5. The construction employs a bleeder valve cylinder 37 in which ismounted a bleeder valve piston 38. The cylinder is normally equippedwith one inlet port 39, a cylinder port no. 1 40 and a cylinder port no.2 41. The device would normally also include exhaust port no. 1 42 andexhaust port no. 2 43. The flexibility of the design of this typebleeder valve 26 permits the closing or blocking of any of the ports bymeans of a bull plug 44. In the preferred embodiment, this bleeder valve26 was mounted at substantially the center portion of the side supportsby means of bleeder valve mounting bracket 46 FIG. 1. In this particularembodiment, spring loaded top bleeder valve activator button 47 wassecured to side support 15 adjacent cylinder base plate 16 and bottombleeder valve activator button 48 was secured to the opposite end of theside support 15. The internal construction of the bleeder valve 26 isillustrated in FIG. 3 again. Referring again to FIG. 1, the top bleedervalve activator button 47 and the bottom bleeder valve activator button48 are connected to bleeder valve 26 by a top bleeder valve hose 49 anda bottom bleeder valve hose 50. Aircraft hydraulic tubing was utilizedfor this purpose. These two bleeder valve activator buttons 47 and 48are preferably secured to the side support by means of adjustablebrackets 57 to pennittheir contact with bleeder valve actuator 25 at theexact desired point to regulate the length of the pumping stroke. Thepreferred embodiment just described is designed for utilization in apumping operation employing a hollow sucker rod 23 of the typeillustrated in FIG. 1. Adjacent the top of this hollow sucker rod 23 isa crude oil flow outlet 51 to which is attached the flexible oil hose52. This hose 52 leads into a tank or reservoir for storing the crude(not shown).

A secondary method of constructing an embodiment of this invention isillustrated in FIG. 6. This device is primarily designed for utilizationin a pumping operation employing solid sucker rods 23. This use, ofcourse, is in conjunction with a different pump mechanism mounted in thebottom of the well (not shown). This device and pumping operationnecessitates the utilization of well tubing 54 in which the sucker rod23 oscillates to accomplish the pumping operation and remove the oilfrom the well. A similar oil flow outlet 51 is utilized in this typeconstruction. Reference is made particularly to FIG. 6 for themodifications of the device for adaptation to solid sucker rod 23operation. The piston rod 18 is secured to sucker rod 23 by conventionaladapter clamping means 24. The pneumatic cylinder is modified by placingthe top bleeder valve activator 47 internal of the pneumatic cylinder 17adjacent the upper cylinder head 28. In this type of operation, theupper portion of the pneumatic cylinder 17 is vented to the airaccordingly, this position operates entirely satisfactory. This topbleeder valve button activator 47 may be activated by piston 19. Thebottom bleeder valve button 48 may be mounted internal or external ofthe power cylinder. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, the operation ofthe modified embodiment wherein activation of the bleeder valve buttons47 and 48 is accomplished by piston 19 requires a modification in thestructure which activates the bottom bleeder valve activator button 48.There must be mounted in aperture in the lower cylinder head 27 anactuator button 56 for the bottom bleeder valve. This must be sealed andsecured in lower cylinder head 27 by an airtight actuator buttonsecuring means 57 employing a packing gland.

Another apparent modification would be to utilize a solenoid activatedbleeder valve 26 incorporating electrical contacts as the equivalent ofbleeder valve activator buttons 47 and 48.

The structure may also incorporate appropriately modified porting,venting, and tubing to power the piston of the pneumatic cylinder 26 inboth directions.

For an illustration of another embodiment of the invention or method ofutilizing the combination, reference is made to FIG. 8. In thisstructure, a looped closed circuit is envisioned. Such a circuit wouldattach exhaust line 69 to bleeder valve 26 to either exhaust port one 42or exhaust port two 43 depending on the desire operation. Exhaust line69 would lead to low pressure tank 70 which would include a low-pressurerelief valve 71. This tank is connected by intake lines 72 to compressor73. There should be provided in the intake line 72 a cutoff valve 74 anda check valve 75 which is open to the atmosphere desirably through afilter 76. The high-pressure line 77 leads from compressor 73 to highpressure tank 78. In this embodiment, inlet tubing 36 is connected tohigh-pressure tank 78 with the cylinder inlet tubing 36 connected toinlet port 39 of bleeder valve 26. The high-pressure tank 78 should beequipped with a high-pressure relief valve 79. The purposes of thehigh-pressure relief valve 79 and the low-pressure relief valve 71 is toinsure the maintaining of a pumping differential in the enclosed system.A preferred setting would be 150 p.s.i. in the high pressure tank 78 and80 p.s.i. in the low pressure tank 71. A higher or a lower pumpingdifferential may be used depending upon requirements. The regulator forthe air compressor is set to activate the compressor 73 in the pressureranges selected for illustration at p.s.i. The structure and operationof the bleeder valve 26 is as previously described. The foregoing isintended as an illustration of a preferred external source ofhigh-pressure gas 31.

Another possible modification of the device also illustrated inschematic FIG. 8 is the interposing of an oil air tank 80 between thebleeder valve 26 and the power cylinder 17. The cylinder 17 would bestructurally as previously described. The oil air tank 80 would beconstructed with an appropriate inlet 81 and outlet baffles 82 to reducefoaming or emulsifying of the oil. The oil air tank 80 should have avolume of at least three times that of power cylinder 17. Air frombleeder valve 26 feeds into the top of the oil air cylinder 80 and theoil under pressure activates the piston 19 of the power cylinder 17. Inthis concept, cylinder inlet tubing 36 would feed from and be powered byoil from the bottom of oil tank 80.

Another modification which is quite apparent would be to utilizecounterbalance weights to reduce the pressure required in cylinder 17for pumping. This might be accomplished in various ways and might beemployed on any model of this invention. For purposes of illustration,references is made to FIG. 6. A counterbalance weight 60 may be fittedaround cylinder 17. The weight 60 is suspended from cables 61 supportedby roller 62. The ends of the cable are secured to piston 19 and weight60 by cable clamp means 63. This counterbalance weight 60 is so variedor adjusted as to substantially reduce the pumping effort. Othermodifications and counterbalance means are apparent.

The operation of the device of this invention was described in a briefsummary of the invention prior to the detailed description of theconstruction of the device. The operation of the invention will notherein be further described. To avoid .atm

repetition, the reader is referred to the initial portions of thespecification for the specific details of the operation of the device.

Having described in detail the construction and operation of the deviceof this invention in a preferred embodiment and having illustrated anddescribed at least one acceptable modification of the construction, whatis desired to be claimed is all modifications and equivalents notdeparting from the scope of this invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

lclaim:

l. A pneumatic pump activating device comprising:

a. a base plate adapted to be secured to a wellhead,

b. side support means mounted perpendicular to said base plate,

c. power cylinder means having a top portion and a bottom portionmounted on said side support means,

d. a piston movably mounted in said cylinder,

e. a piston rod secured to said piston,

f. means of securing said piston rod to a well sucker rod,

g. an external source of high pressure air or gas,

h. a floating piston bleeder valve intermediate said high pressure airor gas and said power cylinder conductively connected to said cylinderand adapted to control the flow of air or gas to and from said powercylinder,

i. a top bleeder valve activator button remotely spaced and operablyconnected to said floating piston bleeder valve,

j. a bottom bleeder valve activator button remotely spaced and operablyconnected to said floating piston bleeder valve,

k. hollow impervious tubing operably interconnecting said top and saidbottom bleeder valve activator buttons to said floating piston bleedervalve, and

I. means for retaining said top and bottom bleeder valve activatorbuttons in a position to be contacted and activated responsive to saidpiston arriving at the top or bottom of the said cylinder therebyactivating said floating piston bleeder valve and controlling the flowof gas or air to and from said power cylinder.

2. The invention of claim ll wherein the means for retaining said topand bottom bleeder valve activator buttons include:

a. a bracket and associated means retaining said top and bottom bleedervalve activator button in such a position as to be contacted by saidpiston.

3. The invention of claim ll wherein said means for controlling saidbleeder valve comprises:

a. a bleeder valve activator secured to and projecting substantiallyperpendicular to said piston rod constructed and arranged to contactsaid bleeder valve activator buttons.

The invention of claim ll including:

a. counterbalance means secured to said piston means, saidcounterbalance means adapted to counterbalance the weight of a wellsucker rod.

5. The invention of claim 4- wherein said counterbalance meanscomprises:

a. a cable secured to said piston,

b. a counterbalance weight movably positioned adjacent said cylinder,and

c. cable rollers positioned intermediate said piston and said counterweight supporting said cable.

6. The invention of claim ll comprising:

a. oil lubricating means in association with said external source ofhigh pressure air or gas adapted to dispense lubricating oil into saidair or gas.

7. The invention of claim ll comprising:

a. filter means in association with said external source of highpressure air or gas constructed and arranged to filter said air or gas.

8. The invention of claim ll comprising:

a. a pressure regulator in association with said external source of highpressure air or gas adapted to regulate the pressure of said air or gas.

9. The invention of claim 1 including an oil air tank intermediate saidbleeder valve and said ovyer cylinder,

lit). A pneumatic pump activator evice comprising:

a. a base plate adapted to be secured to a well head,

b. side support means mounted perpendicular to said base plate,

c. power cylinder means having a top portion and a bottom portionmounted on said side support means,

d. a piston movably mounted in said cylinder.

e. a piston rod secured to said piston,

f. means of securing said piston rod to a well sucker rod,

g. an external source of high pressure air or gas comprising:

l. a looped closed system,

2. a low pressure tank,

3. a high pressure tank,

t. a compressor intermediate low and high pressure tanks,

5. said high pressure tank connected. to said bleeder valve andfunctioning as said external source of high-pressure air of gas, and

6. said flow from said bleeder valve discharging into said low pressuretank,

h. a floating piston bleeder valve intermediate said high pressure airor gas and said power cylinder conductively connected to said cylinderand adapted to control the flow of air or gas to and from said powercylinder, and

i. means for controlling said bleeder valve.

ill. The invention of claim 10 including an oil air tank intermediatesaid bleeder valve and said power cylinder.

fl= l l 4= b

1. A pneumatic pump activating device comprising: a. a base plateadapted to be secured to a wellhead, b. side support means mountedperpendicular to said base plate, c. power cylinder means having a topportion and a bottom portion mounted on said side support means, d. apiston movably mounted in said cylinder, e. a piston rod secured to saidpiston, f. means of securing said piston rod to a well sucker rod, g. anexternal source of high pressure air or gas, h. a floating pistonbleeder valve intermediate said high pressure air or gas and said powercylinder conductively connected to said cylinder and adapted to controlthe flow of air or gas to and from said power cylinder, i. a top bleedervalve activator button remotely spaced and operably connected to saidfloating piston bleeder valve, j. a bottom bleeder valve activatorbutton remotely spaced and operably connecteD to said floating pistonbleeder valve, k. hollow impervious tubing operably interconnecting saidtop and said bottom bleeder valve activator buttons to said floatingpiston bleeder valve, and l. means for retaining said top and bottombleeder valve activator buttons in a position to be contacted andactivated responsive to said piston arriving at the top or bottom of thesaid cylinder thereby activating said floating piston bleeder valve andcontrolling the flow of gas or air to and from said power cylinder. 2.The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for retaining said top andbottom bleeder valve activator buttons include: a. a bracket andassociated means retaining said top and bottom bleeder valve activatorbutton in such a position as to be contacted by said piston.
 2. a lowpressure tank,
 3. a high pressure tank,
 3. The invention of claim 1wherein said means for controlling said bleeder valve comprises: a. ableeder valve activator secured to and projecting substantiallyperpendicular to said piston rod constructed and arranged to contactsaid bleeder valve activator buttons.
 4. The invention of claim 1including: a. counterbalance means secured to said piston means, saidcounterbalance means adapted to counterbalance the weight of a wellsucker rod.
 4. a compressor intermediate low and high pressure tanks, 5.said high pressure tank connected to said bleeder valve and functioningas said external source of high-pressure air of gas, and
 5. Theinvention of claim 4 wherein said counterbalance means comprises: a. acable secured to said piston, b. a counterbalance weight movablypositioned adjacent said cylinder, and c. cable rollers positionedintermediate said piston and said counter weight supporting said cable.6. The invention of claim 1 comprising: a. oil lubricating means inassociation with said external source of high pressure air or gasadapted to dispense lubricating oil into said air or gas.
 6. said flowfrom said bleeder valve discharging into said low pressure tank, h. afloating piston bleeder valve intermediate said high pressure air or gasand said power cylinder conductively connected to said cylinder andadapted to control the flow of air or gas to and from said powercylinder, and i. means for controlling said bleeder valve.
 7. Theinvention of claim 1 comprising: a. filter means in association withsaid external source of high pressure air or gas constructed andarranged to filter said air or gas.
 8. The invention of claim 1comprising: a. a pressure regulator in association with said externalsource of high pressure air or gas adapted to regulate the pressure ofsaid air or gas.
 9. The invention of claim 1 including an oil air tankintermediate said bleeder valve and said power cylinder.
 10. A pneumaticpump activator device comprising: a. a base plate adapted to be securedto a well head, b. side support means mounted perpendicular to said baseplate, c. power cylinder means having a top portion and a bottom portionmounted on said side support means, d. a piston movably mounted in saidcylinder, e. a piston rod secured to said piston, f. means of securingsaid piston rod to a well sucker rod, g. an external source of highpressure air or gas comprising:
 11. The invention of claim 10 includingan oil air tank intermediate said bleeder valve and said power cylinder.